Training Is Over: Introducing the Half-Marathon Suit

With a little more than a week to go, my attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for fastest half-marathon in a suit draws near at a veritable sprint.

I’m extremely thankful for the support I’ve had this season and beyond. I’m pleased to announce that my training partners from Pace & Mind will accompany me to the finish line as my official pacers and GWR witnesses. There’s also Canada Running Series, the organizers of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, who have given me immense support throughout my running career, as has my lovely girlfriend. And then there’s the finely fitted number you see me wearing here.

Indochino has kitted me out with this custom Indotech suit for the race. The suit supplier’s most technical fabric yet, it comes with sweat-wicking features, enhanced breathability and wrinkle-proof fabrication. It also has the impressive ability to stand up to liquids, causing them to bead right off — perfect for unpredictable race day weather and mist-filled runs along the Toronto lake shore.

And as I learned during my training, every variable you cut out makes a world of difference when you’re running in a suit.

Crafted to my exact specifications, the suit is surprisingly lightweight and felt more like a technical fall mid-layer than a traditional two-piece during my last 25-kilometre training run. Heat wasn’t as much of a factor as I had expected on that 13-degree Celsius morning, even with a wrinkle-free button-up and singlet underneath. Chafing was non-existent, proving once again menswear’s golden rule holds true in all situations: a tailored fit is king.

But just because I chose this suit for its sportier properties doesn’t mean I couldn’t have some fun. The stand-out indigo windowpane check will carry me well past the finish line and into my next editorial meeting. As for the finer details, I monogrammed the shirt with my initials (because why not?) and requested my run motto — Look sharp. Run hard. — stitched into the lining. Suspender buttons on the inside of the waist will spare me a restrictive belt, and the ticket pocket will come in handy for stashing my Gu energy gels.

Training if officially over. I’m tapering for the big day and any extra work I put in between now and October 18 is icing on the cake. With a lot of determination and a little luck, I can only hope that my legs will carry me over that finish line to a new world record.

If anything, I can guarantee you a photo finish.

Check out some more images of my half-marathon suit in the gallery below. For updates, keep an eye out for the #RUNSHARP hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.